WWE '13 Cover: CM Punk's Video-Game Honor Proves His Worth to the Company

With CM Punk revealing on Monday Night Raw that the front cover of the 2013 WWE video game would feature him, a new generation of wrestling was officially ushered in.

WWE.com

Punk may not be headlining Pay-Per-Views right now, but his appearance as the face of the company on their video game proves just how valuable the WWE views the star’s brand moving forward.

As much as many wrestling experts questioned if the former Ring of Honor champion had what it took to be a WWE superstar, those questions have been answered emphatically with this cover; Yes! Yes! Yes!

Who Else Has Graced WWE-Game Covers?

Just staying in the SmackDown vs. Raw/WWE generation for the cover art, huge stars like John Cena, Triple H, The Undertaker, Shawn Michaels and Randy Orton have all graced the front of the company’s video game.

Like Punk said in his promo on Monday Night Raw when he revealed the artwork, it is a very prestigious honor because it’s WWE’s way of admitting that a star can move the product.

While the fans have held Punk in a high regard for a long time, the WWE has failed to see his marketability. With the inclusion on the cover of the 2013 game and their decision to back this project so heavily, the company proved they feel Punk will be a huge star moving forward.

CM Punk and the WWE Moving Forward

From @CMPunk's Official Twitter

Simply put; CM Punk is this generation’s Stone Cold Steve Austin.

Whether you want to agree with that or not, it’s clear that Punk has become the anti-hero face of the WWE just as Stone Cold did during the Attitude Era.

WWE.com

Just as Austin made the company tons of money through merchandise and ticket sales, Punk is beginning to turn the mainstream fans in his favor while still holding his take-no-prisoners attitude.

The key moving forward will be not allowing Punk to lose his edge. WWE officials oversaturated the wrestling world with Stone Cold at the peak of his popularity, but it never felt like too much because Austin was always rebelling against it.

While Punk is still not the biggest star in the company, he is well on his way to becoming the future face of wrestling. And that’s the bottom line, ‘cause CM Punk said so.

Who CM Punk Appeals to Now

As much as CM Punk was over with the smart wrestling fans since arriving in WWE, fans have to be honest with themselves; the business side of the WWE isn’t trying to sell the product to you.

They are trying to sell this product to casual fans and the people that spend money on gear and apparel. If you are going to like wrestling no matter what WWE does, why would they spend time catering to your needs?

The business of wrestling is getting the children and the casual fans to like the faces and buy the merchandise. Hardcore-wrestling fans don’t want to hear this, but Punk has become the latest generation’s version of John Cena with his mainstream popularity.

While Punk will never be as big of an ambassador for the company as Cena, his irreverent attitude and fight-the-power mentality will endear him to the fans.

Love him or hate him; CM Punk is the future of the WWE.

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